BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS
Senator Martha M. Escutia, Chair
BILL NO: SB 596
S
AUTHOR: Alpert
B
AMENDED: April 5, 1999
HEARING DATE: April 14, 1999
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FISCAL: Appropriation
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CONSULTANT:
Chee
SUBJECT
Volunteer Mentor Partnership Act
SUMMARY
Enacts the California Volunteer Mentor Partnership Act and
designates the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs as
the lead agency in providing support, coordinating efforts
and services among the private sector, nonprofit
organizations, and any other state agencies, and promoting
quality assurance standards for mentoring programs.
ABSTRACT
This bill
1.Requires the Prevention Partnership subcommittee,
administered by the Governor's Policy Council on Drug and
Alcohol Abuse, to provide counsel to the California
Mentor Initiative and ensure coordination of public
sector efforts for quality mentoring.
2.Requires the Prevention Partnership subcommittee to
include at least one representative each from Friday
Night Live, from a community-based one-to-one mentor
program, from an academic mentor program, and from the
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California Mentor Foundation.
3.Requires the Governor's Policy Council on Drug and
Alcohol Abuse to report to the Legislature by February 1,
2000 on the feasibility of consolidating the grant
applications and processes used by state agencies funding
mentor programs.
4.Requires the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs,
through direct implementation or through contracts with
private sector and nonprofit organizations or in
cooperation with other agencies to
Promote adoption of quality assurance standards
by mentor programs
Provide technical assistance, a clearinghouse
and library service
Prepare and update a directory of mentor
programs and provide referrals for the public
Coordinate mentor recruitment
Develop reporting forms and requirements for
mentor programs, and
Promote adherence to the California Mentor
Initiative Quality Assurance Standards
1.Requires the Governor's Policy Council on Drug and
Alcohol Abuse to report annually on the progress of this
Volunteer Mentor Partnership Act and on the progress in
achieving private sector involvement.
2.Requires the Governor's Policy Council to promote and
update quality standards and to direct public support for
mentor programs.
FISCAL IMPACT
Unknown.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The author asserts that this bill is a crucial first step
in recognizing mentoring as a positive alternative in
assisting young people to be successful. In contrast to
drug treatment programs and juvenile detention centers,
mentoring is a prevention strategy. The author asserts
that it is a cost-effective method, relying primarily on
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the efforts of volunteers, designed to reduce at-risk
behavior in youth. The author hopes to address the
following four major risk factors among youth: academic
failure, substance abuse, involvement in the criminal
justice system, and teen pregnancy.
The concept of mentoring originated as early as 1904, when
the Big Brothers program was created to provide one-to-one
mentoring relationships between adult volunteers and
children at risk. The corresponding Big Sisters program
began a year later, pairing concerned women with young
girls. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is
the oldest mentoring organization in the country and
currently services over 100,000 children and youth in more
than 500 agencies throughout the U.S. BBBSA is just one of
many mentoring programs available to youth that are
sprouting up every day, such as the recently established
America's Promise- The Alliance for Youth, led by General
Colin Powell.
Mentoring program services may include providing
afterschool homework help, drug and sex education, conflict
resolution training, or general companionship, e.g.
attending sports events or visiting museums. The merits of
mentoring are well-known, and many
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attribute the decline in teen pregnancy and increase in
literacy in recent years to such programs. Research has
shown that mentoring can effect a significant impact on
youth. One study conducted by Public/Private Ventures, a
national research organization that studies child
development and social service issues, in 1992-93 with some
959 boys and girls, ages 10-16, showed that mentoring has a
definite positive effect on children's and adolescents'
behavior. Half of the participants were matched with a Big
Brother or Sister, while the other half were assigned to a
waiting list. The assigned children met with their Big
Sibling about three times a month for at least a year.
Researchers found that 18 months later, those who had a
mentor were 46% less likely to begin using drugs, 27% less
likely to begin using alcohol, 53% less likely to skip
school, and 37% less likely to skip a class. They were
also more confident of their performance in school, less
likely to hit someone, and got along better with their
families.
One amendment that has been proposed by the California
Child, Youth, and Family Coalition (CCYFC) is to provide
increased state funding for mentor programs to help
subsidize the costs of mentor-mentee activities. Mentoring
programs are volunteer-based, and according to CCYFC,
low-income adults may be discouraged from mentoring because
they cannot afford to take their mentees on outings.
POSITIONS
Support: Athletes and Entertainers for Kids (sponsor)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fresno, Kings
and Madera Counties (sponsor)
California Mentor Foundation (sponsor)
L.A. Mentor Coalition (sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees
California Child, Youth, and Family
Coalition
Fresno, City and County Convention Visitors
Bureau
Tam Greene, M.S.W. of San Francisco
Mentoring Coalition
SportsBridge
Walden Family Services
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Oppose: None
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